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Civil Rights Groups Lambasts FG Over Lucrative Contracts to Former Militants

By on August 25, 2012

Asari Dokubo has 1 billion reasons to smile as he receives $9.5 million a year

A Kaduna based civil rights activist Mallam Shehu Sani  has berated the Federal Government over huge contracts awarded by the NNPC to former militants who terrorized the Niger Delta for several years.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the NNPC and FG awarded pipeline and maritime security contracts to Asari Dokubo (US$9.5 million or N2 billion), Government Tompolo (US$22.9 million or N3.614billion), and Boyloaf/Ateke Tom (US$3.8 million each or N1.2 billion).

In a heated response Malla Shehu Sani called the payments a fraud and scandal.

His words: “A nation that buys its peace is a nation indebted to war.

“The revelations clearly expose the facade and the inherent fraud in the truce and the amnesty programme

“The huge and scandalous payment to pacify the militants clearly demonstrates that the agitation in the Niger Delta is not about the plights of the suffering people there, but a mercantile and bogus approach to state extortion and blackmail.

“There is nowhere in the world where freedom fighters are paid for fighting. The diversion of billions of Naira that should be ideally spent on health, education and infrastructure for the appeasement of the militant is an act of irresponsible governance and a recipe for political and economic disaster.

“The undeserved appeasement of the ex- militants by the Federal Government amounts to a state in perpetual payment of ransom. The Niger Delta agitation has become a big and lucrative business draining the economy of the country and delivering no good to the ordinary masses of Niger Delta.

“President Jonathan should not leave behind a legacy of appeasement to an extortionist few but of delivery of good governance to all”.

The Arewa Consultative Forum also spoke out against the practice.

ACF spokesman,Mr. Anthony Sani, said: “It is important to point out that the Federal Government is too intelligent not to know that the constitution which has brought about the government does not allow some individuals or groups to have undue advantage in the distribution of and access to national resources by way of political appointments, employment, projects or infrastructure and contracts.

“The purpose of such provision is to command loyalty of constituent parts of the nation that are needed for national solidarity and unity devoid of any sense of undue insular particularism.

“And in participatory democracy, people are at liberty to cry foul whenever they notice constitutional infractions by the government in order to inspire corrections on the part of the government.”

The Port Harcourt based Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) also voiced their reservations against the government’s actions.

Mr. Anyakwee Nsirimovu, Executive Director of IHRHL said, “Contract award in Nigeria is guided by laws and regulations. I do not feel that being ex-militants should be the criterion for them to be blindly awarded contracts. It is condemnable.

“Under the public procurement law of Nigeria, there are processes for tendering and contract award, which must be transparent and accountable. If due process was followed, no problem, but if it was not followed, that is quite unfortunate.

“With the award of N5.6 billion contract to the ex-militants, there will be no value for money in the country. The funds belong to all Nigerians. Contracts should not be on patronage basis. The contract to ex-militants is not part of the amnesty programme. The amnesty should not be monetised.

“Niger Delta youths, who never participated in armed struggle, will now be motivated to carry arms, as a result of the contract award to the ex-militants. The nation’s future is fraught with danger. Nigeria will pay the price.”

 

One Comment

  1. wrong move

    August 25, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    when boko haram dies after lots of pay off ,south west youth will want to fight for something too. since that is the best way to share national treasure